In today’s post, I’m going to talk about something I’ve always found fascinating. An artistic expression known as urban art or street art.
Art has had different definitions, styles and representations throughout history. One of the most democratic forms in which the world of art manifests itself is urban art. It is that which is not represented in galleries, museums or specific places in the art world, but in the city itself, in the street. Giving them personality and expressiveness.
Urban art can be understood in many ways, but it could be defined as all artistic expression carried out in the street. An expression that has to do, in one way or another, with the world of handicrafts such as painting and sculpture.
What is street art?
We call urban art or street art, all art made in the streets or with reference to this style. In addition to graffiti, street art also encompasses other forms of artistic expression. Since the 1990s, street art is a term we have come to know. We use it to encompass artistic work in the streets. Artists or groups of artists who use different types of techniques (murals, graffiti, stencils, stickers, mosaics, video projections, etc).
It is a type of art that always emerges in peripheral neighbourhoods and in many cases has a high political content. In fact, its beginnings were probably in Paris in the second half of the 1960s.
In Spain, as in other European countries, it was first born in the peripheral areas of large cities and in the localities of their metropolitan areas. Subsequently, it spread to the rest of the country. At present, Madrid and several municipalities in the south of the country, as well as Barcelona, Galicia, Valladolid, Zaragoza and Cuenca are important centres of this discipline.
Artists always use their ingenuity to choose spaces and play with the concept of the public and ephemeral. It is art that is offered free of charge to the public at large. Urban art has begun to be highly valued in the last ten years or so. They are now making the front pages of magazines and the news with their new artistic interventions. So we can say that the dilemma between art and vandalism is gradually becoming blurred.
Origin and evolution of street art
Like all art forms, street art has its own history, its own protagonists and its own particular evolution over time.
The origins of street art are usually traced back to Paris in the 1960s. When artists began to work in the streets in a way that was very close to what is currently understood as street art. Especially if we think about aspects such as the modification of the conception of space and the search for interaction with the city and its inhabitants.
This type of art initially emerged as a form of vindictive expression, with a certain political character, of social criticism, closely linked to urban neighbourhoods. Although urban art retains some of that character, many of its currents have become detached from the more political aspect. But rather, with the intention of expressing all kinds of emotions and messages, not necessarily vindicatory.
The first use of the term street art in the closest sense to contemporary usage dates back to 1985. It appears in a publication by Allan Schwartzman, entitled “Street Art“. A highly recommended book that compiles the work of New York artists from the early 1980s, who transformed the perception of urban space with their artistic creations.
The artists mentioned in Schwartzman’s book worked in the streets and produced what would later be called street art. It was only in the new millennium that this concept began to be understood as a global art movement.
When, in the 2000s, street art began to appear on a massive scale in newspapers, on the Internet and on television all over the world, the movement began to become increasingly mediatic and, in some cases, to emerge from anonymity and illegality. At the same time, Bansky’s worldwide success made him a symbol of a new art form that quickly became popular.
Today, stencil art, driven in particular by the great popularity and visibility of Bansky, is one of the forms that best represents the concept of street art.
Types of street art
If we classify urban or street art according to the techniques used, we obtain the following typologies:
1.- Graffiti:
Graffiti is probably the most recognised type of street art in the world. It is the one that has been with us on the streets for the longest time and one of the most chosen by urban artists. Graffiti as we know it today emerged in the 1960s, grew in the 1970s and finally developed in the 1980s and 1990s. In the case of urban art, this graffiti is not simply a message of protest, but takes on a whole aesthetic meaning. Drawings, shapes, coded messages, etc.
Graffiti is an inscription or drawing that is made in a public place and is usually done without authorisation. Graffiti can be seen on walls, sculptures, statues, vehicles and rubbish bins. Generally, they have a critical or satirical intention. But also to indicate that the person who made the inscription was there, either with their initials or with a pseudonym.
A lot of graffiti is done illegally, but there are private individuals and public bodies that give walls to artists so that they can paint their works on them. Many graffiti artists do this with all the necessary permits and without damaging the city. But the fact that most graffiti is done illegally has stigmatised this art as pure vandalism.
2.- Murals:
Muralism, in its most basic sense, can be understood as any pictorial expression made on a wall. Murals are one of the oldest means of artistic expression. Carried out in prehistoric times by our ancestors on cave walls. For example the cave paintings of Lascaux, France or Altamira, Spain.
Over the centuries, renowned painters and artists were hired to turn walls into murals with all kinds of depictions. This practice was especially common during the Renaissance. Proof of this can be found in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. A fine example of interior murals (frescoes) by the great artist Michelangelo..
But the modern idea of the mural as urban art is quite recent and comes from Mexico. The definition is influenced by the Mexican Diego Rivera who managed to create a school among his contemporaries in the 1920s.
Originally, Mexican murals were intended to reinforce Mexican identity and collective memory. To create a strong sense of nationhood with a strong nationalist and political objective. Over time, this type of art became universal, giving rise to new muralist currents. Each one with political or apolitical ideals far removed from the original objective of the 1920s.
Some consider murals to be a type of graffiti, although this does not always have to be the case. They also tend to be more legal, sometimes even paid for by the administration itself by hiring professional artists and displaying their works in visible places in the city. From a white wall of a block of flats to the walls of the town hall itself.
Muralists are creators of paintings, only of colossal sizes. They are generally works of art that are highly respected throughout the world. There is no major European or American city that does not have more than one mural on its streets.
3.- Stencil art:
Stencil art, also known as stencilling, is a technique that reproduces designs by applying ink or paint to stencils cut out of a sheet of paper. In this way, elaborate shapes are achieved and text is combined with the image. The origin of this practice is uncertain and it is known to have been carried out in many places simultaneously.
Rome, China, Japan, the Inuit of Baffin Island… all of them have used this technique since time immemorial. But the oldest evidence of stencilling is found in Spain, where a 66,000-year-old panel of hands has been found.
But despite its great age, this technique became very popular in the United States during the 1960s. It was in that decade when many artists used pure colours and silhouettes with sharp outlines as a means of expression. Something that has become a symbol both in universal pop culture and as a prototypical representation of urban art beyond graffiti. One of the best known artists in this technique is Banksy, along with Blek le Rat and Shephard Fairey.
4.- Posters:
Street poster art is also considered a type of street art. It is not only about putting pieces of paper on walls, but also about doing it in a way that does not go unnoticed. Not only because of the design, but also because of the invasive way in which these posters can be placed.
It is a complex typology in which issues such as the use of public space, freedom of expression and the essence of art overlap. They usually carry political messages, although it is not exclusively a method of one political tendency or another.
Whatever the message behind it, the idea is that a picture is worth a thousand words. Expressing it in the form of a poster is sometimes more effective than a political meeting.
5.- Sticker art:
Sticker art began to become popular in the 1980s thanks to skateboard companies and punk rock bands. It consists of sticking stickers on any urban surface, allowing the person who sticks them on to make their name and work known in a simple and quick way.
Because it is not a very complex type of urban art, sticker art has always had a low profile among street artists. However, sticker culture is quite widespread around the world, with references such as Shepard Fairey, Marc Ecko, 14 Bolt and CJ Ramone.
The sticker may be a picture or a phrase, which can be stuck anywhere in the city. If it is mass-produced, it can reach many places, although many of these stickers are prepared at home. There are several reasons why it has become so popular:
- They offer the possibility to apply a graphic design on any wall.
- It takes moments to glue them, so you don’t have to keep an eye out for the police.
- You can express messages, images or advertise anything.
- They can be printed en masse and pasted all over the city.
- They last for a long time.
- They are a way to reproduce ideas cheaply.
6.- Sculptures:
There are other, more daring forms of street art that intervene objects on the street, combining sculpture with other graphic arts. Sculptures are also urban art. Here we are not only referring to the sculptures as such that decorate squares and streets. We refer to sculptural performances, temporary or permanent. Many of them are governed by the theory of intervention in urban spaces. With the intention of attracting the attention of passers-by but without hindering their path and becoming an obstacle.
There are those who call this type of art “structures” because, in reality, the aim is to create art that plays with the city. With its imperfections and forms. It may consist of giving a humorous touch to a fire hydrant, a bent railing, a fallen bollard or broken fences. Turning a merely functional urban element into a piece of expression and modern art.
Characteristics of street art
Urban or street art, in general, is characterised by being:
- Large dimensions: Nowadays, urban artists create walls of large proportions where they express their art and their personal style. Large format murals cover the main walls of cities and are considered an added value. It is an artistic representation that adds value to the environment.
- Ephemeral: Regardless of their legality or not, most of these street art works have an ephemeral character. Why? They are often degraded by the passage of time, the action of the sun’s rays on them, street graffiti, renovation of the mural by another artist or because the “canvases” are repainted and the surfaces cleaned.
In fact it is one of its main characteristics. You may see it once, but if you pass by it again in a few years, it may not remain in the same state. However, they do remain in photographs and film. - Urban elements: We almost always refer to walls, but any element of the city can also be susceptible to painting by an urban artist.
- Impact on the viewer: Regardless of their location, the main objective of these works is to impact on the viewer. In a positive or negative way, but in any case the aim is to reflect on the work and pass judgement on it.
10 of the most prominent street artists
Many street artists continue to operate anonymously, giving them an aura of mystery that sometimes makes their work more popular. Others, on the other hand, have chosen to reveal their identity when hired for public or private graphic projects. Precisely to embellish walls and objects with their groundbreaking urban style.
Let’s get to know some of these artists, their works and why they deserve to be on this list:
1.- Banksy
The famous artist Banksy currently tops the lists of the most recognised artists of this style. His works are social denunciations of the system, political and ethical mockery, which strike with subtle irony, but also with great sensitivity. His works, which are full of protests against society and governments, have already been seen around the world.
If there is one thing that characterises his work, it is his unmistakable use of stencil art, introducing a new way of communicating. A tool that allows him to draw quickly in order to avoid being hunted during his creation. We must not forget that the true identity of this artist is still unknown.
2.- Keith Haring
For many, Keith Haring is one of the precursors of the birth and creation of what we know today as graffiti. His graffiti was a symbol of activist expression and communication. His style, characterised by stylised figures, bright colours and thick contour lines, became immediately recognisable.
Keith Haring’s collection and his works have surpassed all boundaries of art. Many of his designs have been captured on commercial products such as T-shirts, mugs and trainers. It wouldn’t be surprising if you had a drawing in your own home by this artist who is such a reference in contemporary urban art and pop culture.
3.- Okuda San Miguel
Painter, sculptor, designer and one of the famous Spanish graffiti artists par excellence. Okuda San Miguel is one of the most important artists specialising in urban art and style. His pieces are easily recognisable by the play of polychrome colours and the use of geometric shapes.
Kaos Temple in Asturias, New Mona Lisa in Paris and the International Church of Cannabis in Denver are some of his works.
4.- Vhils
The Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, known in the art world as Vhils, is one of the references both inside and outside his country. His murals can be found in hidden and recondite spaces in the city, providing answers to the routine and daily life of the population.
His creative process starts with the search for the subject, usually a simple face, a person who can humanise the place. He defines his characters as everyday heroes. Always under the premise of destroying in order to create. The artist wants to create a strong link between the city and the people, as one takes care of the other.
This artist’s artworks are a revelation for urban art. Pieces with great inspiration and without predictable rules. The style Alexandre Farto is known for is the destruction of a surface to create a figure. Like a kind of urban bas-relief.
5.- Boa Mistura
“Good mix” is the meaning of the term, half Portuguese and half Galician, Boa Mistura. This group of urban artists was born at the end of 2011 in Madrid. They understand urban art as a means or a tool to transform the city and create links between people. Their mission goes beyond aesthetic value. They seek to impact their environment, creating a catharsis and transforming it into a better place. Their art is closely linked to the times in which we live.
Their fame has grown to take their projects and works to countries such as the USA, Mexico, South Africa, China, Chile, Algeria, Brazil, Serbia and Panama, among others.
6.- Eduardo Kobra
Eduardo Kobra can boast of being one of the best known artists since the 1990s. His realistic pieces and his messages against pollution and deforestation are now part of the lives of the people of Brazil.
So much so that the mural he created for the Rio 2016 Olympics won the Guinness World Record for the largest graffiti in the world. More than 3,000 square metres of urban art.
7.- Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey, an American graphic artist who transferred a simple but conceptually very original discourse to the walls, should be highlighted. A clear representative of sticker art.
His works are a kitsch mixture halfway between Soviet propaganda and Dadaist irony, with a skater aroma. But the true artistic dimension of this American is based on his innumerable signature pieces, in which a peculiar dose of social criticism and political vindication predominates: anti-war, environmentalism, multiculturalism and feminism are recurring themes in his work.
Undoubtedly, Fairey is a paradoxical creator, who takes advantage of the mechanisms of the system to favour his work and who adds his own personality to a wide range of existing perspectives, techniques and elements.
8.- JR
The French JR, known as the “underground photographer”, he started out as a photographer. In 2005, he began pasting his brilliant and gigantic photographs on the walls of Paris. At first, his activity was considered illegal, but his images were later recognised and made official by the French capital’s city council.
His works consist mostly of faces attached to emblematic buildings in the city to convey clear messages of a social nature.
9.- PEJAC
Simple in its format, but powerful in its message. The art of the Spaniard Pejac tries to exploit the public space as a channel of communication to show perspectives and realities. It is simple in its execution but extremely powerful and transcendental in its message.
His works cover different urban art techniques. From sculpture, stencil art and other techniques. Pejac is already an established and world-renowned artist.
10.- Aryz
The artist Aryz is a contemporary muralist whose particular style is about creating characters in huge formats combining different textures and emotions. He was born in 1988 in Palo Alto, California, but moved to Spain at the age of three, where he grew up in the suburbs of Barcelona.
His murals usually depict human beings or animals in both surreal and muted colours. Regardless of their definition, Aryz likes to use the classic tools of street art, such as brushes, spray paint, rollers, etc.
He has painted in various parts of Europe, including France, Spain, Poland, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Finland and Norway, and in other parts of the world such as the United States, Venezuela, Japan, China and Morocco.
Conclusion.
Street art, born in the darkest corners of cities, has emerged to conquer hearts and minds around the world. From its beginnings on the streets to its recognition in the contemporary art world, street art has left an enduring mark on culture.
As it evolves, it will continue to serve as a reflection of society and a valuable expression of human creativity. Because not all street art should be under the stigma that every drawing on a wall is vandalism.
Hi, I’m Roberto Vidiella.
I am the founder and Creative Director of VIDI. I am passionate about graphic design, and through this blog, I try to deepen my knowledge and share what I have learned during my career. If you leave me a comment, you help me to keep learning and improving, and I’m really excited about it!